Training Hunter-Gatherer Healers in Congo

The Mbendjele say ‘we love the forest as we love our own bodies’

Bwanga
​Means ‘Medicine’ in Mbendjee, the language of the Mbendjele BaYaka hunter-gatherers. The Mbendjele have a very well developed traditional healing system.

Yet, if forced to abandon their mode of living in order for them to have access to health, education and other services all based on the assumption that people have to be sedentarised to do so they not only abandon their previous mode of life but begin to lose the knowledge and skills coming with it.

Our project supplements the existing traditional system of healing with safe generic medicines. It enables the Mbendjele to continue living in the way they want to, helping to ensure their rich culture and forest-orientated way of life survives.

Why

Commercial logging and mining, conservation projects and government policies all put increasing pressure on today’s hunter-gatherers to sedentarise.

Access to health care is often given as the reason to force people to sedenterise. This not only threatens their physical and cultural survival, but may also add to the problem of increasing numbers of rural poor and the rise in diseases accompanying poverty.

Where​In the beautiful marshy forests of the Northern Republic of Congo. Congo borders 4 countries: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic (CAR), Cameroon and Gabon and the sea. With 342.000km2 Congo is larger than the UK and has a population of approximately 3.5 Million with around 50 different ethnic groups.

WHY HUNTER-GATHERERS?

Hunter-gatherers like the Mbendjele BaYaka, also referred to as Pygmies, have unique knowledge about the delicate balance of the eco-system they live in. In order to address climate change it becomes increasingly important to search more innovatively for solutions. The intimate knowledge of people who have lived for millennia in such eco-systems could be valuable in conservation projects working in the Congo. When people are forced to sedentarise in order to have access to health, education and other services, they not only abandon their previous mode of life but also lose the accumulated knowledge and skills that came with it, and humanity is that much poorer.

WHY TRADITIONAL HEALERS?

Traditional healers are the first to be consulted for help as they are trusted and respected by their community. We therefore train community-selected healers in the delivery of primary health care. Good healers can identify and treat many diseases and know how to care for the sick. They provide meaningful services because they have the cultural sensitivity and language skills necessary.

This short film shows the training of the 2014 teams of traditional healers.

EVENTS:
From time to time Su Hart (Baka Beyond lead singer) and Ingrid Lewis teach polyphonic singing workshops (typical singing style of Central African hunter-gatherers) to joyously raise awareness and funds for both Baka and BaYaka (Mbendjele) hunter-gatherers respectively. Get in touch using the contact form above to join our mailing list.

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Help us to maintain the existing and to set up more mobile clinics by donating whatever amount you can to: